Job Discussion Forums

[Galum82]

As much as I loathe to view this world in terms of race, it is an inevitable topic of discussion that will never be resolved.

I have been searching for about 6 months now for an English teaching position in Beijing and still no success in landing a job. I would get a few replies now and then asking for me to send them more information about myself, such as, a recent photo. However, once I had sent out the requested documents I never heard back from them again. I had suspected that I was not getting replies back because of my photo- I am Chinese-American. Therefore, I don't look foreign and according to them I am not a true American. However, no school or recrutier had ever told me straight up that this was the true reason why I was not hired. They would either not reply at all once I had submitted my picture or just reply back with a one-liner stating that the position had already been filled. Recently, I had just received a reply back from a recruiting agency stating the following:

Dear Carleen Ben,
"BJ779 is a private school, andthey want their foreign teachers to look like foreigners in apparences. I really can't agree to that, but it's true . There are so many foreign citizens of chinese origin here ,and they are also in such sorry plight....By the way, BJ779 has only one vacancy, and there is another teacher negociating with them. That is the condition....Good luck"

Another thing to point out is that I had always thought that being able to speak Mandarin would be a plus in terms of teaching ESL in China. I still believe this to be true. It would be a plus if a "White" foreigner speaks Mandarin and teach English. But for a Chinese-American to be fluent in both Mandarin AND English it is looked as a negative thing. It sort of automatically loses the credibility that the Chinese-American is a "Native English speaker".

*And so, I would just like to know if anyone is in a same or similar situation as I am in? Also, does anyone know of any schools that would actually prefer a bilingual ESL teacher in Beijing or don't care about the race of the teacher as long as they are native English speakers??

[cimarch]

Unfortunately this seems to be a fairly common attitude in China. The fault usually doesn't reside with the school but with the attitude of the parents. Parents pay twice or even three times as much to have their child taught by a foreigner and don't speak English themselves so they have no way to tell if they're getting their money's worth unless the teacher is 'obviously' a foreigner. There are many schools in China who would pull this type of scam if they could.

On the plus side, there are many schools that will hire you. These are usually the good schools, the ones that actually care whether you can teach or not; they don't just want a foreign face to put in front of the class or show off to the parents.

However, and I'm not sure if this is true or not, salaries seem to be lower for Asian-appearing teachers.

[Galum82]

CIMARCH: In regards to Asian-appearing teachers and lower salary wages, it appears to be true in some cases. My friend was studying abroad in Hong Kong and she and a group of other "Foreign"appearing friends found a job teaching English. The school paid the "Foreign" appearing teachers TWICE as much than her just because she was Chinese-American! Despite the fact that the school knew that they all came from the same University in the States. Gladly, my friend along with other Asian-American teachers and a few "Foreign" appearing teachers gathered together and protested. They weren't exactly 100% successful but they did raise the salaries of Asian-American teachers and lowered the "Foreign"-appearing teachers' salaries. But, the "Foreign"-appearing teachers still got paid slightly higher. AND this was in HONG KONG, a supposedly well-educated and developed place!! I guess there is no hope!

In retrospect, when I was studying abroad in Beijing, I had also obtained a job teaching English at a Primary School. I got the same pay as my "Foreign" appearing friend and seemed to be more in favor with the school, students, and parents because I was able to speak Mandarin. However, there was also this other teacher that taught English in the school, but she was from Beijing and she got paid lower than we did. I felt a bit guilty but her English was really heavy-accented. So, that made me feel less guilty with the fact that I was getting paid more than her.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[anthyp]

Whiner brings up a good point. I think you might stand a better chance of finding a good job outside of those two (very popular) cities.

Besides, you speak Mandarin, and look Chinese. So you might find all the things we love about living in small - town China (staring, difficulty getting around) easier to deal with. Why limit yourself to Beijing and Shanghai?

I'd also suggest that you take a good look at public schools -- especially universities. I know a man from Singapore teaching at a college here, so it can be done.

You just have to keep your options open, and try not to take this too personally. This is China, anything goes. There are still more jobs than applicants.

Good luck!

[Galum82]

ANTHYP: The reason I want to go to Beijing is so that I can also do some research and study for my thesis. It would be a lot more convenient for me to do my researching in Beijing because that is where China's top universities are located.

[lagerlout2006]

Don't forget that "being there" and able to show up for interviews is half the fight. I knew someone in the same boat as you and he could easily find work in China. And he could not speak Mandarin. He couldn't speak any language but thats another matter.

I find it hard to believe you can't find work. Forget the net and look in person. Beijing is a poor city at least compared to the south but I would be shocked if you cant find employment. You are applying for the wrong jobs. Play to your strenght. You are applying for jobs that are looking for non-Chinese. 6 months?

[laodeng]

If you would consider teaching in Shanghai, I could steer you in the direction of two universities that apparently have no problem in hiring hyphenated Asians to teach English. It's a bit late in the game for the current semester, but they'll soon be looking to fill slots for the spring. Pls PM me if you're interested.

[oprah]

I have always been told the school does not want a foreign teacher that speaks mandarin. If you can only speak English, then the students have to speak English.

[Galum82]

OPRAH: well, it's kind of hard for the teacher not to have a basic command of the country's language if they are teaching absolute beginners, especially with Primary School students...
As a language student of Spanish and Japanese, I found it way more productive and useful if my professor spoke English rather than a straight up Spanish or Japanese speaking professor. I remember it was so frustrating when my Japanese teacher didn't know a bit of English. There was just no understanding and connection. I totally lost interest in learning Japanese that semester...

But that's besides the point I was making regarding Caucasians speaking Mandarin and Chinese-Americans speaking Mandarin...my point was that if a Foreigner is able to speak Mandarin, it wouldn't be a plus or negative thing. The person is still looked upon as a legit "Native English speaker"- a true American. But, if a Chinese-American spoke both languages it is automatically seens as a NEGATIVE and he/she is not looked upon as a Native English speaker...it just all comes down to if you look foreign or not...

[Roger]

We have had this topic on and off for years. I do think, the Chinese ought to re-educate their "adult" population - I often wonder what kind of mindset presides over the decision to put a 4-year old through an English-language kindergarten where native English techers are required to rely on CHinese "English teachers" as "interpreters"... Frankly, this is a scary scenario - you never know whether your CHinese opposite number actually understands English or not, let alone whether she "translates" it adequately.
Of course, in kindergartens kids won't need translation of what you say in English - if you are a little resourceful and imaginative you can easily communicate with kids from just about any cultural and ethnic background. They don't need to use two lingoes in one class. What is the TPR method for? How did they ever learn their first tongue anyway? So, as a matter of fact I have aaught at kindergartens without using Chinese myself, and not allowing my assistants to speak it unless to give them disciplinary directions.

To come back to the original post: try to steer clear of Chinese-owned schools. Can you work for an international one? No, Mandarin would noean asset except for your personal affairs; if you feel that grammar ought to be instructed in Chinese, perhaps ..

An international, or a JV school would no doubt remunerate you fairly. There also are a few English-medium, privately-owned colleges and secondary schools where English is used to teach geography, sciences etc.

But don't raise your hopes too high. I think the job market this year is less dramatically underfilled than previously.

Go for a kindergarten if you can't get a job with an international school!

[pedroj0se]

It's all about how you perform as a teacher here in China. IT may not be easy to get a teaching job in China for asian looking teachers but once you have proven you are a great assest to the school, jobs will start to come.

I am a freelance teacher here in Guangdong province, Foshan City to be more specific and I am now teaching in several private and public educational institutions here.

Getting a job here as an Asian may be a little bit difficult compared to more foreign looking teachers, but it doesn't mean it's impossible to get one.

[yaco]

MY EMPLOYER IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE HIRES TEACHERS FROM ALL NATIONALITIES.

SEND ME A PM.

[Roger]

Ah, yaco; holidays in Thailand over? Back to Huadu? Do they accept part-timers there?

I work on TWO days a week, and am off duty on five days!